I'm a little nervous about this one, so humor me with a review, will you? Tell me what you thought.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.

What was Hayley Marshall doing in the Louisiana bayou of all places?

"Ah, perfect," Hayley laughed without humor. "Little Miss Sunshine. Ty's girlfriend."

As Caroline got closer, she crossed her arms over her chest and Hayley did the same. Jackson wandered off.

"I asked what you were doing here. Don't you have someone else you can betray?"

"I came with Elijah because Klaus asked us to come. Has he been keeping secrets from you, Caroline? Doesn't that seem to happen a lot with the men in your life?" she taunted, starting to circle Caroline. "First, Tyler. Now, Klaus. You have no idea what you're getting involved with."

"I'm going back to my friends. You wouldn't know what that's like, would you? Your friends are all dead."

Caroline took a couple steps back and yelled out to the wolves who were returning their homes, shoulders slumped at everything they lost.

"Did you know Hayley here lured twelve werewolves like yourselves to their deaths? Did she tell you she became friends with them first? She gave them up without a second thought. Do you know who she gave them up to? Klaus. Watch your backs or she'll do it to you."

Hayley's face paled. She did what she needed to do. It was the only option. Shane told her they would all come back and she'd get information on her family. The Crescent pack already left her out and she wasn't sure they would ever let her join them again. Caroline's speech might be the final nail in the coffin.

The wolves paid attention to Caroline's words. They'd already been betrayed by Oliver and they wouldn't stand for another betrayal by this newly turned hybrid. Ever since she came around trouble came along with her.

She flashed up to Caroline who didn't flinch, although Hayley was somehow a hybrid. She didn't see that coming.

"Watch yourself, Caroline. You gave up one of Klaus' hybrids too. Don't forget that. This is my family. I'll do anything to protect them."

"I'm not afraid of you, Hayley. You sneak around and scheme. You don't know anything about loyalty or family. You act when people's backs are turned and their defenses are down. That's not happening here. I know who you really are and I won't turn my back on you ever again," she scoffed and took a step away.

"Right, you surround yourself with such good people. I can't forget your boyfriend, Tyler. Tyler who tried to create more hybrids. The Tyler who stabbed a needle into my stomach."

"Hayley, you're a liar. That's what you do. I don't believe a word coming out of your mouth."

Caroline knew Tyler lost his head when it came to Klaus and he certainly felt betrayed by Hayley, but she couldn't imagine he actually did what Hayley said. It made no sense anyway.

Klaus paused as he heard the women fighting. He told Elijah how surprised Mikael was to hear Esther's name. Each didn't know the other was back. Bringing her up was the only thing that saved him from being dead within seconds.

Klaus' plan was to lure Mikael away from New Orleans. Together, his parents would be too much, but if they were kept separate, each could be defeated some way and with no Other Side, they would be gone for good and Hope stood a chance of coming home. The problem was in the execution.

"Mikael is used to me running. I'll pick up a bag and be on my way. While they are our enemies, you might be better off here with the wolves. Marcel and Davina will certainly send Mikael to the New Orleans home to wait for our return. I'll get Mikael out of town before they search here. It's me he wants," he said solemnly.

He clasped Elijah on the arm, "Brother, I will get out of this mess."

"For your family, Niklaus," Elijah agreed.

Klaus raced back to the edge of the woods to get Caroline. Her departure was long overdue and he did not trust Hayley to keep her mouth shut. Eventually Caroline would find out about Hope, but it would be on his terms when he could explain.

"Hayley, if you want to be able to speak ever again, I suggest you put your tongue away," he warned as he marched between them.

"Let's go, Caroline." He gestured out ahead of him to the car.

She was more than happy to leave.

"Do you know why he tried to get blood from my stomach, Caroline? It was because I was pregnant," Hayley yelled to Caroline's back.

Hayley was sick and tired of being treated like trash and if she was hurt, she was going to hurt others also. She just wanted to protect her baby and every decision she made seemed to backfire in her face. In all the things she said, Caroline hadn't lied.

Caroline stopped dead in her tracks and spun on her heel.

"Was the father one of the wolves killed, Hayley? Sounds like something you would do. Did he already have a girlfriend? That is the kind of guy you're attracted to, isn't it?" That would have been perfect.

"No, the father is standing right next to you. We fucked back in Mystic Falls. That's how I'm a hybrid now. A miracle baby. Guess that thousand year old sperm was really potent. You wouldn't know anything about that though, would you? No babies for you. You won't let Klaus get near you either. Too good to slum it up with him. Shame, he's a decent lover. Better than Tyler anyway."

"Hayley," Klaus yelled. "Shut your mouth or I'll snap your neck."

"Like she snapped mine," Caroline mumbled out, latching onto the least horrifying thing she heard.

"Elijah, get her out of here."

Elijah swooped in to bring Hayley to a quiet spot. He hated seeing her like this, lashing out and stooping to a level he didn't think she had in her. He was seeing a new side to her he didn't like at all. This was the mother of his niece? He would not stand for it.

"Caroline, let's go. Get in the car."

"Is it true?" she whispered, not moving.

Klaus sighed. This was the worst way she could hear about it. He reached out to gently tug on her hand and took her deep into the woods.

She stayed there, unmoving. She focused on her anger. Tyler cheated on her with Hayley. Hayley and Klaus had a baby. Tyler knew about the baby and didn't tell her. A baby she would never have. Klaus had sex with Hayley.

"We've always had honest discussions in the woods, Caroline."

He couldn't stop moving. If he did, he would have to look and see the hurt and disappointment on her face and that burned inside.

"I'm sorry you found out like this. Yes, Hayley and I had a baby. I…I can't explain why it happened, but it did." He opened and closed his clenched fists, unable to stop moving.

"Hayley was wrong about one thing. Neither you nor Tyler were good lovers. Neither of you know what it means to love. It was just sex, an exchange of fluids. Doesn't that make you feel good about yourself, Klaus? You said you cared for me and you know what? I believed you. I was an idiot."

As she started to turn her emotions into words, angry tears gathered in her eyes. She ignored them as she lit into him.

"I thought your pretty words showed a tiny sliver into your soul, the human piece that was untouched from all the misery around you. That was a lie. You don't love me and I certainly don't love you."

"Caroline," he tried.

"No, Klaus," she raged. "Why didn't you say anything? Why weren't you honest with me? She betrayed you. She set up those hybrids behind your back and you still fucked her? Like you fucked me? If you chose Hayley, good for you. I wish you the best."

She started to walk away, not sure which direction she should be going, but knowing she couldn't stay where she was.

"You wouldn't let me 'choose' you. I was angry and it was a one-night stand. We weren't together at the time, still aren't. There are no feelings between us other than our attempt to raise a child together. If you must know, she's taken a liking to my brother."

"Oh, that makes it all better. You call it a one night stand and your baby momma is hooking up with your brother?" she scoffed. "Sounds like an ideal way to raise a child."

This child had Hayley and Klaus as parents. She felt horrible for the innocent life.

"You wouldn't let me do more than 'fuck you' as you call it. I just kept something to myself until I could explain it." He looked down. "I didn't think it was the right time."

"You would have sent me home again without telling me. Did you think I was incapable of empathy?"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry you're hurt. I'm sorry I wasn't honest," he called out as she kept walking. "Why does it hurt to think I lied?"

He caught up to her and tried again.

"Let me tell you how much I care about you and fuck Marcel, then you can tell me how it feels." She continued marching away.

"Caroline, please stop," he whispered. Hearing the desperation in his voice, she stopped, keeping her back to him.

"My feelings for you run deep. I've never felt anything like it and your anger at me is unbearable. I want you to care for me like you do your friends. I saw the way you were with Tyler and I want it for myself. I'm selfish and arrogant. I, I don't know how to be any other way than I am."

She pitied him. How did she think in her deepest, most secret thoughts that maybe she'd end up with him one day? It scared her. He was dangerous and cruel. His obsessions would turn her into someone she didn't want to be.

"I want to be loved, appreciated, and cared for by someone who does more than love me, but makes me a better person too. I believe you think you love me in your own twisted way. It's tainted though. It doesn't come from a place of honesty or real love. It comes from jealousy and possessiveness. You want an obedient dog. You just said it. You wanted what Tyler had. Had Tyler been with Bonnie, you would have wanted her."

The thought sickened her. Hadn't she stopped feeling insecure about herself?

"That's not it at all. It's you, Caroline. I'm trying to change. I showed Rebekah mercy by letting her go. I changed for the baby. She's the reason why I need to make New Orleans work. I'll do anything to rid the city of all my enemies. I will not turn into Mikael for her." He turned to face her, "I can't keep running, Caroline. I was running from Mikael as I chased Katherine. It's time to stop."

Caroline's heart pinched when he heard Klaus refer to his child and it was a girl.

"What's her name?"

"Hope. Hope Mikaelson."

"A little too on the nose, wouldn't you say?" she tried to smile through her tears. She wiped them off her face.

"It was better than Despair." He gave her a sad smile in return.

"Where is she?"

Good question. He knew Caroline would keep his secret about the baby, but Klaus wasn't sure he wanted to add that burden to what she already carried. She wouldn't forgive this omission easily, but until Mikael and Esther were gone he had to keep the secret. He hedged.

"Did you see the black decorations at the house? That's what happened, Caroline." He looked at her deeply, trying to impart there was more to the story.

"She died? I'm so sorry, Klaus. I can't imagine losing a child, an infant no less." She felt badly about some of the things she said to Hayley who was a grieving mother, despite their truth. "Who did it?"

"The witches conspired with my mother to kill Hope. There was a prophecy they were afraid of. The wolves also were a threat to her life."

Marcel went to Oliver after the rumor of Hope's death was started, threatening Oliver that he would blame Hope's death on the wolves. Part of the plan was to spread many rumors, causing everyone to share the suspicion, giving Klaus free reign to seek revenge on anyone, regardless of their actual involvement in Hope's 'death' to avenge any other slights and threats. It was open season on any enemies of the Mikaelsons for any reason.

"So, killing those wolves today and the other one just now was part of your revenge?" She could understand that a little. If she had a child that was killed, she didn't think she would be able to let their killer go. Asking Klaus to do that would be insane and she wouldn't dare.

"In addition to other reasons, yes," he agreed, noticing she appeared calmer. The fight left her and she looked exhausted. He did this to her. He wanted to share her joy and exuberance for life, not take it away.

"I'm surprised Rebekah isn't here with you. I would think if she was going to be an aunt and knew Esther was back she'd be with you."

"Rebekah is living the life she wanted most. I didn't know until yesterday that Esther is probably back in the land of the living and I didn't know Mikael was back until today. The living witches directly involved have been taken care of. If Rebekah decides to call, I will let her know, but she's better off where she is."

"You know keeping those wolves down will not get the respect you crave from them. Every time you knock them down, one is going to plot to overthrow the restrictions you have on them."

"I can't allow them to regroup and try again. There are no werewolves in the Quarter now and for a while that's how it has to be. I know you think I should use less intimidation and violence, but every time I do try, I get stabbed in the back. Today was a perfect example."

He started them walking again.

"My father, Rebekah, even Elijah when we were young, Marcel. The list goes on and on. When I let people in, they hurt me. You hurt me as well, Caroline. Using my affection to advance your friend's pathetic schemes over and over."

He said it seriously, but not viciously.

She stopped.

"You hurt me too. Physically twice and what I found out today hurt me too, Klaus. How would you like it if I bit you and you couldn't be cured from unless I deemed you worthy of the cure? How would you like if I told you how much I cared for you and then followed up with actions that made it seemed like a lie, just to play a game?"

"It wasn't a game. Why did it hurt you so badly?" he asked again, wanting her to give him a crumb of affection or truth.

"You know I wouldn't have given you my confession had I known Hayley was barefoot and pregnant."

"You only confessed there were feelings you were denying, not what they were. In fact, you made me stay away. It was possible we'd never meet again." He would never let that happen, but if it got her to open up he would say it. "I didn't take a chastity vow, Caroline."

"Neither did I." Her eyes narrowed at him. Let him think what he wanted about that. He didn't like it one bit.

They started walking again in silence, almost reaching the SUV.

"How can I break this cycle? I know what I want, but I don't know how to get it."

The tug on her heart was instant and he gave her one of those looks again. This was a man who murdered countless people in front of her, hooked up with Hayley, and had a secret baby behind her back, yet he wanted her to tell him how to change his life to one she could accept and one he could have raised a child in.

"Treat people the way you want to be treated," she held out her hand as he was about to interrupt her, "before you react to the assumed knife in your back. You changed for Rebekah. Keep the peace here in New Orleans. Work with Elijah. Make it safe by not cracking down on everyone, but holding only those who do something accountable for their crimes. That's a start. It won't be easy, but try. Be honest with the people you care about. You'll get my respect that way."

He nodded. He didn't think he could do it and his enemies still had to be vanquished, but if the prize at the end was having a child grow up in safety and Caroline at his side he would try anything…after his parents were killed again.

He opened the door for her and she got in.

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Heavy stuff in this one.

What did you guys think of the conversations? They didn't resolve the issues and some of the conversations were circular, but they talked about them. Had to get them out of the way though and move on.

More action in the next one.